Environmental Regulatory Coordinator

Summary
The Environmental Regulatory Coordinator serves as the Grand Portage Band’s primary resource for environmental regulatory review, impact assessment, non-point source pollution, and brownfields program development. This position monitors and responds to state and federal permit actions, environmental review documents, and rulemaking processes that affect tribal lands, waters, ceded territory, and treaty rights. The specialist leads the Band’s emerging brownfields program, coordinating site assessment, cleanup planning, and redevelopment activities consistent with EPA Brownfields program requirements. This position also carries programmatic and grant administration responsibilities under CWA Section 319, implementing the Band’s nonpoint source protection program with a focus on watershed-scale water quality, wild rice habitat, and tributary health on the Reservation and in the ceded territory.
This position includes field-based assessment work in support of 319 nonpoint source investigations or projects, and brownfields site reconnaissance, including evaluation of landscape conditions, reviewing contractor site work, and regulatory analysis to protect tribal lands and waters. Candidates should be skilled at technical reading and writing, and be comfortable working across environmental disciplines – soils, geology, air, water, and ecological resources. The Specialist represents the Band’s interests in regulatory forums involving mining, mineral extraction and leasing, gas extraction, contaminated site remediation, utilities, and other sources of environmental concern.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Environmental Review & Permit Oversight

• Monitor state and federal permit actions affecting tribal lands, waters, and ceded territory, including NPDES/SDS permits issued by MPCA for mining operations, mineral extraction facilities, utilities, industrial facilities, and wastewater treatment plants.
• Review Environmental Assessment Worksheets (EAWs), Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), and mandatory environmental review documents submitted to the EQB or DNR; evaluate potential impacts to tribal resources and prepare formal technical comments on behalf of the Band.
• Review draft permits and other environmental review documents; prepare formal comments asserting treaty rights, applicable environmental standards, and the Band’s downstream and territorial protection interests.
• Attend and represent the Band at public meetings, contested case proceedings, scoping sessions, and agency stakeholder processes related to permitting and environmental review.
• Coordinate with the Environmental Director and tribal legal counsel on permit challenges, government-to-government consultation requests, and regulatory correspondence.
• Maintain working relationships with MPCA, MNDNR, EQB, EPA Region 5, and other regulatory agencies on permitting and environmental review matters.

Brownfields Program Development & Administration

• Lead development and implementation of the Grand Portage Band’s brownfields program, including site inventory, prioritization, and coordination with EPA Brownfields program staff.
• Manage EPA Brownfields assessment and/or cleanup cooperative agreements; prepare grant applications, workplans, budgets, and compliance reports consistent with EPA Region 5 and 2 CFR Part 200 requirements.
• Coordinate Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments; work with contractors and EPA to interpret findings and develop cleanup or reuse strategies.
• Identify redevelopment opportunities consistent with tribal priorities, including potential renewable energy siting, housing, or cultural land restoration on remediated properties.
• Pursue supplemental brownfields funding through EPA assessment grants, cleanup grants, revolving loan funds, and relevant state programs.
• Engage tribal departments, leadership, and community members on brownfields priorities and reuse planning.

Policy Analysis & Rulemaking Engagement

• Analyze proposed rules, guidance documents, and legislative developments at the state and federal level for implications to tribal environmental programs and treaty rights.
• Prepare policy memos, briefing documents, and comment letters for tribal leadership and the Environmental Director.
• Monitor EQB, DNR, and MPCA rulemaking dockets; track and engage in Minnesota environmental rulemaking processes relevant to the Band’s interests (e.g., mining, helium and gas extraction, mineral leasing, water quality standards, brownfields cleanup standards).
• Participate in regional and national tribal environmental policy networks and represent the Band’s positions in technical and policy workgroups.

Grant Writing & Compliance Reporting

• Prepare CWA Section 319 grant applications, workplans, and budgets; implement workplan activities including nonpoint source pollution reduction strategies, best management practice (BMP) coordination, and watershed monitoring or assessment; coordinate with the Environmental Director and finance staff on grant administration.
• Write annual progress reports and final reports meeting EPA Region 5 requirements; track programmatic and financial milestones.
• Manage grant files and documentation in compliance with 2 CFR Part 200 and applicable EPA grant conditions across brownfields and 319 programs.
• Integrate 319 watershed data, BMP implementation records, and nonpoint source loading assessments into regulatory comment work; use field-based water quality and land use information gathered under 319 to strengthen the technical basis of permit comments, EAW reviews, and tribal positions on proposed discharges affecting wild rice, tributaries, and downstream receiving waters.
• Identify and pursue supplemental funding opportunities to support environmental review capacity, brownfields assessment and cleanup, and related program priorities.

Coordination & Outreach

• Serve as a primary tribal contact for environmental review, brownfields, and regulatory coordination with EPA, MPCA, MNDNR, EQB, and other partner agencies.
• Present program work and policy positions to tribal leadership, advisory bodies, and external partners.
• Participate in regional EPA tribal meetings, brownfields coalitions, and relevant technical workgroups.

Additional Duties as Assigned
Depending on seasonal priorities and departmental needs, this position may assist other environmental programs with field-based work. This could include site reconnaissance for brownfields assessments, wetland delineation or monitoring support, invasive species surveys, and other field data collection activities. Field work may involve hiking to remote sites and working in variable northern Minnesota conditions. Candidates who enjoy getting outside and are comfortable with physically active fieldwork are encouraged to apply.

education and/or experience

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental studies, geology, natural resources, environmental policy, planning, or a closely related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in environmental regulatory work, environmental review, site assessment, or environmental program administration.
• Demonstrated experience with grant writing and federal grant compliance reporting.
• Working knowledge of MEPA processes, including EAW/EIS review, and state environmental permitting frameworks.
• Ability to read and interpret technical documents including permits, environmental impact assessments, Phase I/II site assessment reports, and scientific reports across multiple environmental media.
• Strong technical writing skills; demonstrated ability to prepare formal regulatory comments, policy memos, or similar professional documents.
• Proficiency with GIS and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to conduct field reconnaissance in variable outdoor conditions.

Preferred:

• Experience working with or for a tribal nation, tribal environmental program, or in Indian Country.
• Familiarity with EPA Brownfields program structure, including assessment cooperative agreements or cleanup grants.
• Experience with Minnesota environmental regulatory processes (MPCA NPDES/SDS, EQB mandatory environmental review, DNR mineral leasing and permitting).
• Familiarity with taconite/hard rock mining, mineral extraction, or gas extraction operations and their associated permitting processes in Minnesota or the Great Lakes region.
• Experience drafting formal regulatory comments or participating in contested case or public comment processes.
• Knowledge of CERCLA/Superfund framework and its relationship to brownfields assessment and cleanup.
• Knowledge of treaty rights frameworks and their Application in environmental and natural resource regulatory contexts.
• Familiarity with CWA Section 319 nonpoint source program structure, including watershed-based plans, BMP implementation tracking, and EPA Region 5 reporting requirements; experience with wild rice, freshwater, or Great Lakes watershed protection work is a plus.

Other Requirements:
This position involves a combination of office work, field reconnaissance, and travel to regulatory meetings and agency proceedings. Regular travel within Minnesota and occasional regional travel is required. This is primarily a desk-based regulatory and policy position; candidates need not have a field monitoring background.